The Green Heron Breeding in Ontario. — Very little seems to be 
known of the breeding habits of the Green Heron ( Ardea virescens ) in 
Ontario, and its presence is not often noted north of the southern parts 
of the Province — Mcllwraith makes the general statement that it breeds 
near Dunville, the St. Clair Flats, and at Hamilton. This summer we 
have located it in a spot fully eighty miles north of these places and 
there is reason to believe that it breeds at several points in this locality. 
Early in June the Rev. C. J. Young of Lansdowne, Ont., informed me 
that he had located several Green Herons at Charleston Hake in the 
County of Leeds, and had obtained positive proof that they were breed¬ 
ing there. On June 14, 1899, we visited the lake together and investi¬ 
gated a grove of young trees which was partly submerged as a result of 
the blocking up of the outlet to the lake. The flooded territory was any¬ 
thing but an inviting field for investigation, even by enthusiastic orni¬ 
thologists, as it was almost impossible to shove a punt through the 
tangle; to wade in slime and water three or four feet deep was notan 
attractive occupation, and the presence of clouds of mosquitoes made a 
long stay in the vicinity out of the question. We had not penetrated 
the tangle many yards before a deserted nest was seen; twenty yards or 
so further on was a second nest, and while we approached it a Green 
Heron flew to it, but immediately departed on seeing the intruders. 
The nest was a platform of sticks, placed nine feet from the water in 
an ash sapling. After considerable difficulty, the eggs, five in number, 
were secured and proved to be somewhat advanced in incubation. The 
millions of mosquitoes and the impenetrable nature of the grove made 
further investigation impossible, although we saw several Green Herons. 
The probability is that other nests existed. In another locality we 
found two nests, one of which had recently contained eggs. 
Two Herons were noticed at this place, and it is evident from what 
we learned that these birds are comparatively common about Charleston 
Lake. Not wishing to disturb the birds after having satisfactorily estab¬ 
lished the fact that these Herons breed as far north as the County of 
Leeds, we declined further contest with the battalions of mosquitoes, 
whose breeding and other habits are too well known to require further 
investigation. — C. K. Clarke, M. D., Kingston , Ont . 
Auk, XVI, Oc 
_ ir&U ~ 
In a fanner issue at ‘Tile Auk' I reported the Green Heron (ButorldeT' 
virescens) as breeding on the shores of Charleston Lake; this year I have 
found it breeding in a bay on Loughboro Lake, twenty miles north of 
Kingston, and from reports given have not the slightest doubt that it will 
be found at various points along the so-called Rideau Canal. — C. K. 
Clarke, M. D., Kingston, Ontario. Auk, XVIII, Oct., 1901 , P-V«2., 
Birds of Toronto, Ontario. 
By James H.Fleming. 
Pt.I, Water Birds. 
Aull, XXIII, Oct., 1906, p.447. 
66. Butorides virescens. Green Heron — Regular migrant, not 
;ommon, April 30 to May 24 ; they reappear in June (June 25 , 1904 ), 
md from August 7 to September 17 . 
^ r e Kyi/gctsZ. aA 
£V/ <9/7 a 
, x x >W. , / i /%, y?, g if. 
■ 2 
